The Trevor Project Honors LGBTQ Pioneers

Travel breaks down barriers and boundaries, creating global communities that embrace and celebrate individuality and diversity. That’s the spirit that continues to thread through our hotels, restaurants, local neighborhoods and work families.

For the past four years, we’ve partnered with The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. The Trevor Project works towards assuring that all young people receive the support and compassion needed to succeed in life, a vision we can all get behind.

This year, The Trevor Project has chosen to honor two trailblazers within the LGBTQ community and we couldn’t be more proud to share their inspirational stories with you.

Ground-breaker Christine Garcia at The Trevor Project’s Orange Party.

Christine Garcia is San Diego’s first transgender police officer, and she experienced a remarkable journey of acceptance from her colleagues and superiors when she bravely revealed her transition more than a year ago. In addition to her duties as an accident investigation officer, she volunteers with the San Diego chapter of The Trevor Project, attending events and often fielding late night phone calls. She was selected by the San Diego Ambassadors for the Trevor Project to receive their 2016 Community Impact Award, thanks to not only her support of LGBTQ youth, but also because of the bridge she’s built between the LGBTQ community and law enforcement.

Earlier this summer, The Trevor Project also honored LGBTQ youth advocate, Cole Ray Davis, with the Trevor Youth Innovator award. Davis is the protagonist in Deep Run, a documentary film and coming-of-age story of a young transgender man in rural North Carolina. Executive produced by Susan Sarandon, Deep Run allowed Davis to share his story over the course of five years of his life, intimately showcasing the unique challenges LGBTQ youth face, especially in small towns in the deep south. His openness gives hope to all LGBTQ youth that they’re not alone and can find support and allies in organizations like The Trevor Project.

For easy ways to join Kimpton in supporting The Trevor Project, please take a look at our website.